A look at round 18 of the A-League Men season, in which new interim Brisbane Roar coach Nick Green started his tenure with a 2-1 win over Perth Glory.
THEY SAID IT: “His strike rate is as good as any in the league – Jamie Maclaren and Jason Cummings are maybe a bit better in terms of ratio – but he’s right up there.” Western Sydney Wanderers coach Marko Rudan on in-form Brandon Borrello, who scored his sixth goal in nine games in the 4-0 thrashing of Macarthur FC.
MAN OF THE WEEK: It’s hard to go past Brisbane Roar’s new interim coach Nick Green, who started his tenure with a 2-1 home win over Perth Glory. The Roar started Sunday’s match in last position but moved to ninth after playing with panache. So does Green have his sights on taking over full-time at the end of the season after the recent sacking of Warren Moon? “I haven’t thought that far to be honest,” he said. “I just want to win games. We just want to see how far we can go.”
TALKING POINT: The fitness of Melbourne Victory playmaker Jake Brimmer will be a concern for the club after he hobbled off before halftime in the 1-1 draw with Adelaide United. Victory assistant coach Luciano Trani said after the match that the 24-year-old was in “a lot of pain” and “the diagnosis is not good”.
STAT ATTACK: Melbourne City’s supreme striker Jamie Maclaren is a class act. Before the 3-2 win over Sydney FC he spoke of the improvement he still sought in his game, and then he delivered with two more goals to add to his burgeoning season tally. Maclaren has now scored 138 ALM goals and is four short of Besart Berisha’s all-time record, which at this rate he could pass in a matter of weeks.
BEAT THAT: There is plenty of young talent going places in the competition but there are few as exciting as Adelaide United 17-year-old Nestory Irankunda. The teenager has a bulging bag of tricks and brought one out with an 87th minute equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory, a top-corner rocket from just outside the area that was all class. His subsequent backflip goal celebration showcased his verve and athleticism.
UNDER PRESSURE: Perth Glory have picked up just three competition points in five games to slip four points outside the top six. Little more than a month ago they were on track for finals football, but wins are now at a premium for Glory coach Ruben Zadkovich and his men after a 2-1 loss to Brisbane Roar.
UP NEXT: The big guns clash next week with fourth-placed Adelaide United hosting competition leaders Melbourne City on Friday night. Then Western Sydney Wanderers, in third spot, welcome second-placed Central Coast Mariners on Saturday afternoon. Second to fourth are all on 28 points in what is looming as a tight competition apart from runaway leaders Melbourne City.
